Ryan Spangler looking to come home?

[WTSooner]

Most of the Gonzaga fans are freaking out over this..they think Spangler has great potential, someone even said he'd be the best player to ever transfer out of that program and they think he's a key ingredient to a FF/Elite 8 Run. And us OU fans are thinking he's not good enough to play here? You are out of your minds.

To be fair, I don't recall anybody saying he isn't good enough to play here. Most just think he is a career backup.

And you might keep in mind that there are OU fans that think every bench player that transfers from OU is going to be really good at their next destination. More often then not, that isn't the case.

 

[WTSooner]

TU,

Where are you hearing this about him wanting out?

Now that Wright is staying at TU, I think he would be a nice pickup.

Check your PM's.

 

[NickZepp]

Still can't believe anyone would say Ryan Minor wasn't athletic. People say I say stupid stuff, but this just can't be defended. You didn't watch Minor play.

But onto the new guy I like this stat I saw on the Zaga board.

Spangler led the team in REB/40 minutes

Spangler - 14.3
Harris - 11.7
Sacre - 9.5
Hart - 8.8
Dower - 8.2

 

[WTSooner]

To be fair, I don't recall anybody saying he isn't good enough to play here. Most just think he is a career backup.

And you might keep in mind that there are OU fans that think every bench player that transfers from OU is going to be really good at their next destination. More often then not, that isn't the case.

Also, let me ask it this way:

How many freshman have come to OU in the past 20 years, played 6-7 minutes per game as a true freshman, and turned into anything more than a bench players on good teams? I can't think of anybody, and even if I'm missing a couple of guys, there aren't many. If you are talented enough to start someday on a solid team, you are almost always good enough to average more than 6-7 minutes per game in the manner that Spangler did this year.

 

[One More Rebound]

Also, let me ask it this way:

How many freshman have come to OU in the past 20 years, played 6-7 minutes per game as a true freshman, and turned into anything more than a bench player? I can't think of anybody, and even if I'm missing a couple of guys, there aren't many. If you are talented enough to start someday on a solid team, you are almost always good enough to average more than 6-7 minutes per game in the manner that Spangler did this year.

Dave Sieger comes to mind. Six minutes a game as a true Freshman, then double digit scorer on a Final Four team as a Senior...

 

[One More Rebound]

Gotta run, but one more name: Stacey King. He got double digit minutes as a Freshman, but only averaged 6 points a game. As a Sophomore, he only averaged 7 points a game. I'll leave this one up to the board: what did he average as a Junior and a Senior? I'm not saying Ryan will ever play on Stacey's level, but saying Ryan can and will improve his game...

 

[AdaSooner]

Good grief! The Zags are definitely upset that Spangler may be leaving. That thread is on the fifth page and showing no signs of letting up.

I'm already on record in saying that Kruger should award this kid a scholarship if he wants to come home. He may be a little shy on the skills side. But there's a lot to like about his game. His toughness and never-quit style in going after rebounds and loose balls reminds me a little of Eduardo Najera. Eddie was not the most skilled player around in his freshman season.

By sitting out next year, Spangler would essentially have four to play three. Even if he is not starter material, which is not a certainty at this point, that extra year may be just what he needs to develop into a really nice role player. OU could do worse, that's for sure.

Correction! We have done worse. Three straight years of players I could name that I would gladly trade for a kid like Spangler, who appears to have a lot of potential. I've got a feeling that most of you would, too.

Sign him up, Lon!

 

[Big Old Booger]

Also, let me ask it this way:

How many freshman have come to OU in the past 20 years, played 6-7 minutes per game as a true freshman, and turned into anything more than a bench players on good teams? I can't think of anybody, and even if I'm missing a couple of guys, there aren't many. If you are talented enough to start someday on a solid team, you are almost always good enough to average more than 6-7 minutes per game in the manner that Spangler did this year.

Ryan Minor hardly played his freshman year until the NIT game vs Michigan State. I would guess he averaged fewer than 8 minutes per game as a frosh, and he was pretty good.

 

[WTSooner]

Minor averaged 14 minutes per game as a frosh, and even started 4 games.

But seriously, we're having to go back to Billy Tubbs' teams to find guys that fit this description. The game and rosters have changed since then, hence my "last 20 years statement". Just shows how rare it is. I'm not saying don't take the kid, I'm just saying lets temper our expectations some. He wasn't highly regarded out of HS, and he did nothing at Zaga to change that. He might turn into something very good. The odds are against that though. That's all I'm saying. You'd think some of you would have learned your lessons about over-hyping recruits after the last several years.

 

[NickZepp]

I don't remember Hollis Price or Najera playing a ton as freshmen till later on in their seasons. But maybe I'm just not remembering right because it was a long time ago. But here's a big one. Jeff Webster didn't play at all before he got hurt as a true freshman.

 

[WTSooner]

I don't remember Hollis Price or Najera playing a ton as freshmen till later on in their seasons. But maybe I'm just not remembering right because it was a long time ago. But here's a big one. Jeff Webster didn't play at all before he got hurt as a true freshman.

Hollis started 22 games as a freshman.

Eduardo started 16 games as a freshman.

 

[boksooner]

Longar Longar seems the best recent example. He averaged under 8 minutes a game in his first 2 seasons.

 

[AdaSooner]

My Spangler-Najera comparison was limited to style of play and the fact that Najera earned his playing time as a freshman through tougness and hard work, not because he was an ultra-skilled player. He didn't really come into his own until his junior season.

Spangler may never be even close to as good as Najera. But his determination and heart appears to be similar. That's something you can't teach. Rebounding is a lot about wanting the ball more than the next guy. Osby would have welcomed a player like him last season.

I'm also saying that, while there may be better players out there, it will be hard to find fault with Coach Kruger if he decides to give a ship to a local kid with Spangler's potential. By all accounts, he wanted to be a Sooner out of high school. If so, he'll have more to play for than the average recruit who may not be able to appreciate what that means when it comes to state pride, and of the school he grew up with.

 

[Mr.B!!!]

To me this is pretty simple, unlike HS kids and JUCO kids [generally] CLK will have had an opportunity to review game film of Spangler against D-1 opposition as a freshman, if CLK thinks he is good enough to contribute and takes him as a transfer, then I'm going to go ahead and go with his opinion.

 

[usedtobe1]

Good grief! The Zags are definitely upset that Spangler may be leaving. That thread is on the fifth page and showing no signs of letting up.

I'm already on record in saying that Kruger should award this kid a scholarship if he wants to come home. He may be a little shy on the skills side. But there's a lot to like about his game. His toughness and never-quit style in going after rebounds and loose balls reminds me a little of Eduardo Najera. Eddie was not the most skilled player around in his freshman season.

By sitting out next year, Spangler would essentially have four to play three. Even if he is not starter material, which is not a certainty at this point, that extra year may be just what he needs to develop into a really nice role player. OU could do worse, that's for sure.

Correction! We have done worse. Three straight years of players I could name that I would gladly trade for a kid like Spangler, who appears to have a lot of potential. I've got a feeling that most of you would, too.

Sign him up, Lon!

I agree. The guy is 6'8" and hustles and hits the board hard. He would be invaluable in scrimmages next season, and has a good chance of being in the top 8 players (top 3 post players) in a couple of years. I think it's almost a no-brainer.

 

[colston15]

Sweet 16 type-teams, which I think we would all agree we'd like to be soon, have a Spangler as their 7th or 8th man. He'll hustle, rebound, defend and score 7-10 ppg. Anything more than that is gravy.

Somewhat off topic, how big is the class of 2013 going to be? Figuratively and literally.

 

[CoachTalk]

colston... 7th or 8th man... scoring 7-10ppg... doubtful... but i want spangler to be a sooner

 

[TheGimper]

Sweet 16 type-teams, which I think we would all agree we'd like to be soon, have a Spangler as their 7th or 8th man. He'll hustle, rebound, defend and score 7-10 ppg. Anything more than that is gravy.

Somewhat off topic, how big is the class of 2013 going to be? Figuratively and literally.

Has OU ever had a 7th or 8th man average 10ppg?

 

[BigTime]

Has OU ever had a 7th or 8th man average 10ppg?

Selvy was close...

Spangs,

Come home.

-SoonerNation

 

[colston15]

colston... 7th or 8th man... scoring 7-10ppg... doubtful... but i want spangler to be a sooner

Adjust that to 5-7 if you wish, the point remains the same. We need players like Spangler to get where we want to be.